Pasadena Unified Made the Right Decision

OPINION

A student is reading a book while wearing a mask (Photo – PUSD)

The Pasadena Unified School District is considered a leader in the state of California. Our staff are regularly consulted on our curriculum, ethnic studies, student wellness, the arts, and more. It’s not a surprise because we are a well-managed and culturally rich district.

By Jennifer Hall Lee

Like all school districts we can’t control everything and COVID-19 certainly surprised us, but in my opinion we responded with the right decisions. Back in 2021 the PUSD school board voted to make masks and testing a requirement, but not vaccines.

We also instituted hand washing stations and social distancing. In my personal opinion the board made the right decision because only the state has the right to mandate vaccines for students and this was reaffirmed by the California State Supreme Court last week.

Just last summer, two county superior court judges in Los Angeles County and San Diego County struck down COVID vaccine mandates by two school districts: Los Angeles Unified School District and San Diego Unified School District. The county judges determined that only the state has the power to mandate vaccines for school districts.

COVID-19 roared through our nation with no limits, and by the time vaccines were available the state of California had not yet mandated them for schoolchildren. In fact, the FDA had only approved one of the three COVID vaccines that were available during the time the PUSD school board was discussing mandates.

Was it tense being a Board member during this time? Yes! Our community was a microcosm of the nation. Highly-charged polarizing opinions on vaccine mandates were landing like meteors in my email inbox. Public comments were numerous and reflected both sides of the issue.

We have many private schools in our area and I asked some private school parents if their schools had required vaccines but I couldn’t find any that did. (In fact, the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center not only didn’t require proof of vaccines, they didn’t even require masks!)

Ultimately, the PUSD school board decided to make masks and testing required, but not vaccines. In my opinion, it was the right call.

Jennifer Hall Lee is speaking for herself.